‘Disgusting’: DNC Chair rails against precinct consolidation during South Carolina Democratic primary

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Saturday’s historic win for President Joe Biden in the first in the nation primary was not without confusion and frustration for some South Carolina democrats.

Among them was Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, who blasted the consolidation of some precincts around the state, calling it “disgusting.”

“We see it time and time again in the South, and it has to stop,” he said. “We see it in places where there are Black and brown voters. So if people believe in freedom, then demonstrate that – not through your words, demonstrate it through your actions. Make it easier for people to vote in this country, not harder.”

An exasperated Harrison showed up to his usual polling place Saturday morning, only to realize it had  been moved.

However, the South Carolina Election Commission said counties made the changes in accordance with state law.

“They need to do better,” Harrison said. “We need to make changes in of how we vote in this country, and to make sure that folks aren’t disenfranchised because of last-minute modifications and changes.”

The DNC Chair was not alone, though. Several Richland County voters told WIS that it took them multiple tries to get to the right polling place.

“It was confusing today,” Jeff Powley, a Richland County democrat who also experienced the issue, said. “I didn’t have any warning, I didn’t see anything online or on TV.”

The State Election Commission said these changes are allowed, under a law which stipulates that cost-saving measures can be taken for presidential primaries and municipal elections.

The law specifically cites combining polling locations.

“It’s a fine line you kind of have to walk there,” John Michael Catalano, South Carolina Election Commission spokesperson, said. “You need to save money because the state law requires you to, but you also need to ensure that no voters are getting impacted in such a way that they won’t be able to vote if they want to. So it can be messy when you consolidate a polling place just from that voter education perspective.”

Travis Alexander, Richland County Director of Voter Registration and Elections, said the county took all the necessary steps to alert voters of the changes.

Alexander said they posted signs at the affected polling places, updated information on the county’s website and put the information in the local newspaper.

This combining polling locations is allowed in presidential primaries, but not the general election, according to the State Election Commission.

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